MOSCOW, 26 October (BelTA) – On 26 October the CSTO Permanent Council members met with plenipotentiaries of the parliaments of the CSTO member states at the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Saint Petersburg. The meeting was attended by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, BelTA learned from CSTO Press Secretary Vladimir Zainetdinov.
The participants of the meeting discussed efforts to improve interaction of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly with other bodies of the organization. The CSTO secretary general noted that the organization attaches great importance to participation of the CSTO Secretariat in events held by the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, and senior members of the CSTO Secretariat regularly take part in meetings of the CSTO Permanent Council. “The parliamentary dimension is one of the foundations of our organization, and therefore the CSTO Secretariat attaches great significance to interaction with the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly as it is viewed as one of the tools to strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the organization,” Stanislav Zas emphasized. He noted that the promotion of the parliamentary dimension became one of the priorities of Armenia's chairmanship in the CSTO in 2021-2022.
In turn, Chairman of the CSTO Permanent Council, Permanent and Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the CSTO Viktor Biyagov noted that the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly plays an important role in the adoption of model legislative acts and recommendations that contribute to the convergence of the laws of the CSTO member states and bring them into line with the provisions of international treaties concluded within the CSTO.
“In the context of the parliamentary dimension, it is important to converge and harmonize the national legislations of the CSTO member states in the field of national security taking into account new challenges and threats. We also view the CSTO parliamentary diplomacy as an effective tool for building a dialogue on the platforms of international parliamentary organizations and forums,” Viktor Biyagov said.
The parties agreed that it is necessary to make the most of public diplomacy to shape a positive image of the CSTO. They also discussed the plan of events timed to the 30th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and preparations for the anniversary session of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.
